Contactor

ABSTRACT

A contactor comprises improved resilient mounting means mounting the stationary magnetic member and movable magentic armature. The contactor also comprises an improved compactly constructed movable assembly.

United States Patent Wilsdon et al. [4 1 Apr. 25, 1972 1 CONTACTOR [56] References Cited [72] Inventors: Thomas A. Wilsdon, Alden; James D. Col- UNITED STATES PATENTS Buffah 3,196,231 7/1965 Meyer ..335/193 [73] Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corporation, Pitt- 3,319,199 5/1967 7 Bauer Sbursh, 3,525,059 8/1970 Schramm et al. ..335/132 22 Filed: Mar. 30, 1971 Primary Examiner-Harold Broome PP 129,474 An0rney-A. T. Stratton, c. 1.. McHale and w. A. Elchik 52 u.s.c1 ..,....33s/191,335/128,335/132 ABSTRACT 51 1111.01. ..110111'50/30 A t t d t [58] Field ofSearch ..335/191,192, 193, 125, 12s, cmpllses means 7 2 335/132 mountmg the statlonary magnenc member and movable magentic armature. The contactor also comprises an improved compactly constructed movable assembly.

10 Claims, 6 Drawing Figures PATENTEDAPRZB 872 3,659 237 SHEET 3 or s FIG.3

PATENTED APR 2 5 I972 SHEET 0F 5 3 II I FIG.6.

FIG. 5.

Fh I SHEET 5 BF 5 PATENTEDAPR 25 1972 CONTACTOR Certain features of the herein disclosed contactor are disclosed in the co-pending application of Thomas A. Wilsdon et al. Ser. No. 129,473, filed concurrently herewith.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention Electromagnetic contactors.

. 2. Description of the Prior Art It is old in the art to provide a contactor comprising a stationary structure that includes a resiliently mounted stationary magnetic member and a movable structure that includes a resiliently mounted magnetic armature. This invention is an improvement over the prior art in that each of the magnetic members of the electromagnet is resiliently mounted by means of a first spring means that provides a spring loaded resilient mounting and a second spring means which is a damping spring means.

It is also old in the art to provide a contactor comprising a movable structure that includes an armature and a contact arm mounted on an insulating carrier. This invention provides an improved compact structure in that the pivotally movable insulating carrier comprises a molded cavity portion for receiving the armature, which molded cavity portion is nested in a generally U-shaped portion of an elongated contact arm that is pivotally supported at one end thereof on the insulating carrier on one side of the molded cavity portion and that carries a contact at the opposite end thereof on the opposite side of the molded cavity portion.

' SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION A contactor comprises an insulating support and a contactor structure supported on the insulating support. The contactor structure comprises an insulating carrier that is pivotally mounted at one end thereof. The insulating carrier comprises a molded cavity portion in which a magnetic armature is resiliently mounted. An elongated contact arm is pivotally supported on the insulating carrier between the pivot of the insulating carrier and the cavity portion at one side of the cavity portion. The elongated contact arm comprises a generally U- shaped part that extends over the molded cavity portion, and a movable contact is carried on the movable contact arm at the opposite end of the cavity portion. Thus, the molded cavity portion is nested in the U-shaped part of the contact arm to provide a compact arrangement of parts. The contactor structure also comprises a stationary magnetic yoke and an energizing coil supported on the insulating support. Each of the magnetic members is mounted on the associated support by resilient mounting means that comprises a charged resilient means for providing a spring load and alignment of the magnetic members, and also a damping spring for damping resilient movement of each magnetic member. Each of the damping springs is an elongated leaf spring with a curved portion intermediate the ends thereof. Each of the spring loading means comprises a pair of compression springs disposed on opposite sides of the curved portion of the associated damping spring.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a top plan view of a contactor constructed in accordance with principles of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken generally along the line II II of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 with the contactor being shown in the closed position;

FIG. 4 is a sectional view similar to FIG. 2 with the arc-hood structure removed and with the movable structure in the maintenance position;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the contactor in the maintenance position shown in FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line Vl VI of FIG. '3 to illustrate the resilient mounting means of the core and armature.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to the drawings, there is shown therein a threepole contactor 5 comprising a stationary insulating support 7 and a contactor structure 9 supported on the insulating support 7. In each pole unit, there is a conductor 11 supported on the base 7 and a stationary contact 13 that is supported on a conductor 15 that is in turn secured to the conductor 11 by means of a bolt 16. In each pole unit, there is a terminal conductor 17 supported on a support plate 19 that is in turn secured to the insulating support 7. A single generally U- shaped stationary magnetic member or yoke 21 is .resiliently supported on the insulating support 7 in a cavity 23 of the insulating support in a manner that will be hereinafter more specifically described. An insulated coil 25, having a pair of openings therein for receiving the legs of the U-shaped yoke 21, is secured to the insulating support 7 by means of a pair of bolts 27. A pair of kick-out springs 29 are supported on the insulating support 7 on opposite sides of the coil 25. There is a three-pole arc-hood structure 29 removably supported on the insulating support 7 by means of a pair of elongated bolts 31 (FIG. 1) that pass through openings in the insulating material of the arc-hood structure 29 and that are threaded into tapped openings in the insulating support 7. The arc-hood structure 29 comprises molded insulating material 33 having three pockets 35 therein for the three pole units of the contactor with a plurality of slotted magnetic plates 37 supported in each of the pockets 35 in a stacked relationship with the slots thereof being aligned in a well-known manner. The insulating material 33 is formed with a plurality of vent-passage openings 39 at the end thereof for venting arc gases out of the arc-hood structure 29. A separate insulating stop 41 is removably secured at the underside of the front of the insulating material 33 in each of the cavities 35 by means of securing means 43.

A rigid metallic generally U-shaped support plate 45 is fixedly secured on the insulating support 7. A movable structure indicated generally at 47 is pivotally supported on the support plate 45. The movable structure 47 comprises a molded insulating carrier 49 pivotally supported on the support plate 45 by means of an elongated pivot pin 51 that passes through openings in the legs of the support plate 45 and through bearings 52 supported on the carrier 49 in openings formed in the molded material of the insulating carrier 49. The insulating carrier 49 pivots about an axis normal to the plane of the paper as seen in FIG. 2. The insulating carrier 49 comprises an integral molded insulating cavity portion 53 that forms a cavity 55 that is open at the back of the insulating carrier 49. A generally U-shaped magnetic armature 57 is resiliently mounted in the cavity 55 in a manner to be hereinafter described.

The insulating carrier 49 is molded with integral barrier means providing three compartments 61, which are open at the front of the carrier 49, for receiving three elongated contact arms 63 for the three pole units of the contactor. Each of the contact arms 63 comprises a generally U-shaped part 65 that is positioned over the cavity portion 53 of the carrier 49 with the cavity portion 53 nesting in the generally U-shaped part 65. Each of the contact arms 63 is pivotally supported, at one end of the cavity part 53, on a pivot pin 67 that is secured to the carrier 49. The contact arm 65 is supported such as to permit the contact arm 65 to wobble slightly on the pin 67 for contact alignment. As can be understood with reference to FIG. 2, the pivot support 67 is disposed on one side of the carrier portion 53. At the other end of the contact arm 63, the one leg of the U-shaped part 65 is bent over to provide an extended part 71, and a movable contact 73 is secured to the with reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, thethree compartments 61 are open at the front of the insulating carrier 49. In each pole unit, a flexible conductor 79 is secured at one end thereof to the associated contact arm 63 by means of a bolt 81 and at the other end thereof to the terminal conductor 17 by means of a bolt 83.

The resilient support of the yoke 21 and armature 57 can be best understood with reference to FIGS. 2 and 6. As can be seen in FIG. 6, a generally U-shaped support plate 89 is secured to the insulating support 7 in the cavity 23 by means of a pair of bolts 91. The support plate 89 comprises a pair of bent-over end parts 93 that fit in suitable notches at the sides of the yoke 21 to retain the yoke in position on the support 7. The fit of the bent parts 93 is a loose fit to permit limited movement of the yoke 21 relative to the support 7. An elongated leaf-type damping spring indicated generally at 101 comprises a curved center part 103 and a pair of flat end parts 105. A pair of coil compression springs 109 are supported between the support 89 and the end parts 105 of the leaf spring 101 in a charged condition to spring load the yoke 21 in the position seen in FIG. 6. An insulating part 111, molded integral with the insulating support 7, passes through an opening in the support 89 and comprises a curved front part that engages the curved part 103 of the damping spring 101. Upon operation of the contactor in a manner to be hereinafter described, when the armature 57 engages the yoke 21 the loading springs 109 provide a resilient engagement, with the loose fit of the projections 93 in the slots of the yoke 21 permitting limited universal movement of the yoke 21. The engagement of the part 103 of the damping spring 101 with the curved molded projection 111 tends to flatten the damping spring 101, and the frictional sliding movement of the end parts 105 of the damping spring 101 against the back of the yoke 21 provides a damping action to dampen the vibrating and oscillating movement of the yoke 21.

A support plate indicated generally at 115 comprises a curved center portion 117 and four leg portions 119, only two of which leg portions are seen in FIG. 6. Two leg portions 119 are disposed on one side of the armature 57 and the other two leg portions 119 are disposed on the other side of the armature 57. Four bolts 121 (FIGS. 1 and 6) extend through openings in the insulating carrier 49 and are threaded into the leg portions 119 of the plate 115 to mount the plate 115 on the insulating carrier 49. An elongated leaf-spring 123, which is a clamping spring, comprises a curved center portion 125 and a pair of flat end parts 127. A pair of coil compression springs 131 are supported between the insulating carrier 49 and the end parts 127 of the damping spring in a charged condition to bias the yoke 57 downward (FIG. 6) into engagement with the curved portion 117 of the plate 115 to spring load the yoke 57 in the mounted position seen in FIG. 6. The engagement of the curved portion 117 of the plate 115 with the yoke 57 permits limited universal movement of the yoke 57. The curved portion 125 of the damping spring 123 engages a curved surface 135 of the insulating carrier 49. During operation of the contactor, when the carrier 49 moves the armature 57 into engagement with the yoke 21 the compression loading springs 131 provide a resilient engagement. The engagement of the part 125 of the damping spring 123 with the part 135 of the carrier 49 tends to flatten the damping spring 123 and the sliding action of the end parts 131 of the damping spring against the armature 57 provides a damping action damping vibrating and oscillating movement of the yoke 57.

The contactor is shown in the deenergized open position in FIG. 2. In this position, the kick-out springs 29 bias the movable structure 47 to the open position seen in FIG. 2 with the three contact arms 63 engaging the stop portions 41 on the arc-hood structure 29 and stop surfaces 139 on the molded cavity portion 53 of the carrier 49 to limit opening movement of the movable structure 47. Upon energization of the coil 25, the armature 57 is attracted toward the yoke 21 to pivot the movable structure 47 about the pivot pin 51 from the open position seen in FIG. 2 to the closed position seen in FIG. 3

wherein the three movable contacts 73 engage the three stationary contacts 13. The contact pressure spring provide contact pressure in the closed position of the contacts. The spring loaded armature 57 engages the spring loaded yoke 21 resiliently in the manner hereinbefore described with the damping springs 123, 101 damping resilient or oscillating movement of the armature 57 and yoke 21 respectively in the manner hereinbefore described. With the contact arm 63 pivotally mounted at 67 on the carrier 49 spaced from the pivot 51 of the carrier 49, a lost-motion sliding action is provided between the contacts 73, 13 to provide contact wiping during closing and opening operations. Upon deenergization of the coil 25, the kick-out springs 29, operating against the carrier 49,'move the movable structure 47 from the closed position seen in FIG. 3 to the open position seen in FIG. 2 which movement is stopped when the contact arms 63 engage the stop portions 41 of the arc-hood structure 29, with pivotal movement of the contact arms 63 limited by the engagement of the contact arms 63 with the stop surfaces 139 of the carrier 49, to limit opening movement of the movable structure 47 in the open position seen in FIG. 2.

When it is desired to move the movable structure 47 to the maintenance position seen in FIG. 4, the bolts 31 (FIGS. 1 and 2) are removed and the arc-hood structure 29 is removed from the support 7. The movable structure 47 is then manually pivoted to the maintenance position seen in FIG. 4 without requiring any other disassembly of parts. The physical resistance against further flexing of the conductors 79 limits movement of the movable structure 47 in the maintenance position seen in FIG. 4. As can be understood with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, in the maintenance position the movable structure 47 has been pivoted approximately from the position that the movable structure 47 is in when the contactor is closed. At the installation the contactor 5 is mounted on a vertical support panel. The movable structure 47 is pivoted 1 downward to the maintenance position and the weight of the movable structure 47 maintains the movable structure 47 in the maintenance position. When it is desired to again operate the contactor 5, the movable structure 47 is pivoted to the open position seen in FIG. 2, and the arc-hood structure 29 is replaced and remounted with the two mounting bolts 31. Thereafter, the contactor can be operated in the same manner as was hereinbefore described.

We claim:

1. A contactor comprising an insulating support, a stationary contact supported on said insulating support, a stationary magnetic yoke, a first resilient mounting means mounting said yoke on said insulating support, said first resilient mounting means comprising a first spring loading means and a first damping spring means, a coil supported on said insulating support in proximity to said yoke,

a movable structure comprising an insulating carrier, pivot support means supported on said insulating support and supporting said insulating carrier in proximity to a first end of said insulating carrier for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot, a movable contact arm supported on said insulating carrier and comprising a movable contact in proximity to the second end of said insulating carrier, a magnetic armature, a second resilient mounting means mounting said armature on said insulating carrier intermediate the firstand second ends of said-insulating carrier, said second resilient mounting means comprising a second spring loading means and a second damping spring means,

upon energization of said coil, said armature being attracted to said yoke to pivotally move said insulating carrier in the direction to the closed position wherein said movable contact engages said stationary contact and wherein said resiliently mounted armature engages said resiliently mounted yoke, kick-out spring means, and upon deenergization of said coil said kick-out spring means pivotally moving said insulating carrier from said second position in the opposite direction to an open position wherein said movable contact is disengaged from said stationary contact and wherein said armature is spaced from said yoke.

2. A contactor according to claim 1, said first spring loading means comprising a first compression spring loading means, said first damping spring means comprising a first leaf-spring damping spring means, said second spring loading means comprising a second compression spring loading means, and said second damping spring means comprising a second leaf-spring damping spring means.

3. A contactor according to claim 1, a yoke support secured to said insulating support, said yoke support limiting movement of said yoke away from said insulating support, said first spring loading means comprising a first compression spring loading means biasing said yoke away from said insulating support into engagement with said yoke support, said first damping spring means comprising a first leaf-spring damping spring means,

an armature support secured to said insulating carrier, said armature support limiting movement of said armature away from said insulating carrier, said second spring loading means comprising a second compression spring loading means biasing said armature away from said insulating carrier into engagement with said armature support, and said second damping spring means comprising a second leaf-spring damping spring means.

4. A contactor according to claim 3, said first leaf-spring damping spring means comprising a first elongated leaf-spring comprising a pair of first end parts and a first curved part intermediate the first end parts, said first compression spring loading means comprising a first pair of compression springs engaging said first end parts of said first leaf-spring damping spring to bias said yoke away from said insulating support into engagement with said yoke support,

said second leaf-spring damping spring means comprising a second elongated leaf-spring comprising a pair of second end parts and a second curved part intermediate said second end parts, said second compression spring loading means comprising a second pair of compression springs engaging said second end parts of said second leaf-spring damping spring to bias said armature away from said insulating carrier into engagement with said armature support.

5. A contactor according to claim 4, said yoke being a generally U-shaped yoke, said yoke support comprising a generally U-shaped yoke support having inturned end parts engaging said yoke to limit movement of said yoke away from said insulating support, securing means securing said yoke support at the bight portion of said yoke support to said insulating support,

said armature comprising a generally U-shaped armature,

said armature support comprising end parts on opposite sides of said armature and a center part, securing means securing said end parts of said armature to said insulating carrier, and said center part of said armature support engaging said armature intermediate the legs of said armature to limit movement of said armature away from said insulating carrier.

6. A contactor comprising an insulating support, a stationary contact supported on said insulating support, a stationary magnetic yoke supported on said insulating support, a coil supported on said insulating support in proximity to said yoke, a movable structure comprising an insulating carrier, a first pivot support means supported on said insulating support and supporting said insulating carrier in proximity to one end of said insulating carrier for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot, said insulating carrier comprising a molded cavity part molded integral with said insulating carrier and forming a cavity open at the back of said insulating carrier, a magnetic armature supported on said insulating carrier in said cavity, and an elongated movable contact arm, a second pivot support means pivotally supporting said movable contact arm at one end of said movable contact arm on said insulating carrier at a first end of said molded cavity part, a movable contact on said movable contact arm in proximity to the other end of said movable contact arm at the second end of said molded cavity part, said movable contact arm comprising a generally U- shaped part between the first and second ends thereof, said molded cavity part being disposed generally in said U-shaped part of said movable contact arm in a generally nested relationship, contact pressure spring means biasing said movable contact arm about said second pivot support means to provide contact pressure in the closed position of said contacts, kickout spring means biasing said insulating carrier about said first pivot support means to an open position,

upon energization of said coil, said armature being attracted to said yoke to move said movable structure from the open position to a closed position wherein said movable contact engages said stationary contact and wherein said armature engages said yoke, and upon deenergization of said coil, said kick-out spring means moving said movable structure from said closed position to an open position wherein said movable contact is spaced from said stationary contact and wherein said armature is spaced from said yoke.

7. A contactor according to claim 6, and said contact pressure spring means comprising a coil spring disposed between said insulating carrier and the front of said contact arm in proximity to said other end of said contact arm to bias said contact arm about said second pivot support means toward said stationary contact.

8. A contactor according to claim 6, said contact arm being supported at said one end thereof on the end of a first leg of said generally U-shaped part, said contact arm at the end of the other leg of said generally U-shaped part being bent over to provide an extended part, said movable contact being supported on said extended part, and said contact pressure spring means comprising a coil spring disposed between the front of said extended part and said insulating carrier to provide contact pressure in the closed position of said contacts.

9. A contactor according to claim 8, an arc-hood structure supported on said insulating support and comprising an archood pocket, said stationary and movable contacts being disposed generally within said arc-hood pocket, stop means on said arc-hood structure, and during opening operations of said contactor said extended part of said movable contact arm engaging said stop means to limit opening movement of said movable structure.

10. A contactor according to claim 9, said arc-hood structure being removable from said insulating support, and with said arc-hood structure removed from said insulating support said movable structure being pivotally movable past said open position to a maintenance position without requiring further disassembly of parts. 

1. A contactor comprising an insulating support, a stationary contact supported on said insulating support, a stationary magnetic yoke, a first resilient mounting means mounting said yoke on said insulating support, said first resilient mounting means comprising a first spring loading means and a first damping spring means, a coil supported on said insulating support in proximity to said yoke, a mOvable structure comprising an insulating carrier, pivot support means supported on said insulating support and supporting said insulating carrier in proximity to a first end of said insulating carrier for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot, a movable contact arm supported on said insulating carrier and comprising a movable contact in proximity to the second end of said insulating carrier, a magnetic armature, a second resilient mounting means mounting said armature on said insulating carrier intermediate the first and second ends of said insulating carrier, said second resilient mounting means comprising a second spring loading means and a second damping spring means, upon energization of said coil, said armature being attracted to said yoke to pivotally move said insulating carrier in the direction to the closed position wherein said movable contact engages said stationary contact and wherein said resiliently mounted armature engages said resiliently mounted yoke, kickout spring means, and upon deenergization of said coil said kick-out spring means pivotally moving said insulating carrier from said second position in the opposite direction to an open position wherein said movable contact is disengaged from said stationary contact and wherein said armature is spaced from said yoke.
 2. A contactor according to claim 1, said first spring loading means comprising a first compression spring loading means, said first damping spring means comprising a first leaf-spring damping spring means, said second spring loading means comprising a second compression spring loading means, and said second damping spring means comprising a second leaf-spring damping spring means.
 3. A contactor according to claim 1, a yoke support secured to said insulating support, said yoke support limiting movement of said yoke away from said insulating support, said first spring loading means comprising a first compression spring loading means biasing said yoke away from said insulating support into engagement with said yoke support, said first damping spring means comprising a first leaf-spring damping spring means, an armature support secured to said insulating carrier, said armature support limiting movement of said armature away from said insulating carrier, said second spring loading means comprising a second compression spring loading means biasing said armature away from said insulating carrier into engagement with said armature support, and said second damping spring means comprising a second leaf-spring damping spring means.
 4. A contactor according to claim 3, said first leaf-spring damping spring means comprising a first elongated leaf-spring comprising a pair of first end parts and a first curved part intermediate the first end parts, said first compression spring loading means comprising a first pair of compression springs engaging said first end parts of said first leaf-spring damping spring to bias said yoke away from said insulating support into engagement with said yoke support, said second leaf-spring damping spring means comprising a second elongated leaf-spring comprising a pair of second end parts and a second curved part intermediate said second end parts, said second compression spring loading means comprising a second pair of compression springs engaging said second end parts of said second leaf-spring damping spring to bias said armature away from said insulating carrier into engagement with said armature support.
 5. A contactor according to claim 4, said yoke being a generally U-shaped yoke, said yoke support comprising a generally U-shaped yoke support having inturned end parts engaging said yoke to limit movement of said yoke away from said insulating support, securing means securing said yoke support at the bight portion of said yoke support to said insulating support, said armature comprising a generally U-shaped armature, said armature support comprising end parts on opposite sides of said armature and a center part, securing means securing saId end parts of said armature to said insulating carrier, and said center part of said armature support engaging said armature intermediate the legs of said armature to limit movement of said armature away from said insulating carrier.
 6. A contactor comprising an insulating support, a stationary contact supported on said insulating support, a stationary magnetic yoke supported on said insulating support, a coil supported on said insulating support in proximity to said yoke, a movable structure comprising an insulating carrier, a first pivot support means supported on said insulating support and supporting said insulating carrier in proximity to one end of said insulating carrier for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot, said insulating carrier comprising a molded cavity part molded integral with said insulating carrier and forming a cavity open at the back of said insulating carrier, a magnetic armature supported on said insulating carrier in said cavity, and an elongated movable contact arm, a second pivot support means pivotally supporting said movable contact arm at one end of said movable contact arm on said insulating carrier at a first end of said molded cavity part, a movable contact on said movable contact arm in proximity to the other end of said movable contact arm at the second end of said molded cavity part, said movable contact arm comprising a generally U-shaped part between the first and second ends thereof, said molded cavity part being disposed generally in said U-shaped part of said movable contact arm in a generally nested relationship, contact pressure spring means biasing said movable contact arm about said second pivot support means to provide contact pressure in the closed position of said contacts, kick-out spring means biasing said insulating carrier about said first pivot support means to an open position, upon energization of said coil, said armature being attracted to said yoke to move said movable structure from the open position to a closed position wherein said movable contact engages said stationary contact and wherein said armature engages said yoke, and upon deenergization of said coil, said kick-out spring means moving said movable structure from said closed position to an open position wherein said movable contact is spaced from said stationary contact and wherein said armature is spaced from said yoke.
 7. A contactor according to claim 6, and said contact pressure spring means comprising a coil spring disposed between said insulating carrier and the front of said contact arm in proximity to said other end of said contact arm to bias said contact arm about said second pivot support means toward said stationary contact.
 8. A contactor according to claim 6, said contact arm being supported at said one end thereof on the end of a first leg of said generally U-shaped part, said contact arm at the end of the other leg of said generally U-shaped part being bent over to provide an extended part, said movable contact being supported on said extended part, and said contact pressure spring means comprising a coil spring disposed between the front of said extended part and said insulating carrier to provide contact pressure in the closed position of said contacts.
 9. A contactor according to claim 8, an arc-hood structure supported on said insulating support and comprising an arc-hood pocket, said stationary and movable contacts being disposed generally within said arc-hood pocket, stop means on said arc-hood structure, and during opening operations of said contactor said extended part of said movable contact arm engaging said stop means to limit opening movement of said movable structure.
 10. A contactor according to claim 9, said arc-hood structure being removable from said insulating support, and with said arc-hood structure removed from said insulating support said movable structure being pivotally movable past said open position to a maintenance position without requiring further disassembly of parts. 